Epsom’s LibDem MP gags her Party’s new councillors in their moment of triumph
Bourne Hall, Ewell, Friday 8th May – the Count of the five divisions in the East Surrey Unitary Council elections.
As reported elsewhere, local Liberal Democrats took eight out of ten seats in the Epsom and Ewell Area on Thursday’s local elections.
Our reporter, in the room reserved for media interviews at the Count, was talking to soon to be elected Liberal Democrat candidate Roy Deadman. Entered the room Helen Maguire’s communication (sic) officer who stated her party’s candidates were not to talk to the press! The press were only to talk to her boss.
What hair-brained politics studies undergraduate idea this was of a communications strategy is any body’s idea. Neither “liberal” nor “democratic”. Ms Maguire, you can do better than this.
Somewhat handicapped by this injunction your reporter had more time to gauge feelings and responses from the other parties.
Clearly a very poor showing from Labour who had a proud record of consistent representation in Court Ward and a succession of highly respected Labour Mayors.
Reform posted substantial votes in most of the five divisions but failed to get even a second place.
The Conservatives appear to be saying goodbye to Epsom and Ewell as a safe Conservative parliamentary seat, that it had been for ever, up to Helen Maguire’s Liberal Democrat victory in July 2024.
The Greens polled admirably but failed to make the breakthrough that they were hoping for.
The Residents Associations’ faces were saved by the personal appeal and integrity of Eber Kington and Peter O’Donovan who won their seats by substantial margins. Elsewhere, the RA leaders Hannah Dalton and Neil Dallen fell woefully behind both Liberal Democrats and Reform by hundreds of votes.
It would seem that the direction, motivation and relevance of the long-ruling Residents Association has been lost and a new era has dawned.
The full EAST SURREY election results will be published HERE in due course.
On a lighter note. Council issued coloured rubber thimbles sparked controversy. Handed out to the dedicated and hard-working counters, they were brightly coloured green, red and yellow. Were they for counting particular party votes? No, just a co-incidence but that did not stop one Reform candidate asking why there were no purple ones.